Automatic device for subaqueous massage

ABSTRACT

An automatic device for subaqueous massage, comprising a bath or a basin, massaging elements which emit jets or currents of water and are placed or fixed detachably or rigidly on the walls and/or the bottom of the bath or basin, and an assembly formed by means for supplying the bath with water. The apparatus can be used equally for the treatment of invalids or of persons in perfect health.

United States Patent [191 Nicollet ]Mar. 19, 1974 AUTOMATIC DEVICE FORSUBAQUEOUS MASSAGE [76] Inventor: MichelNicollet, 6, rue (Bas-Rhin),

Strasbourg, France [22] Filed: Mar. 23, 1972 [2]] Appl. No.: 237,341

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Mar. 26, 1971 France 71111629[52] US. Cl. 128/66 [51] Int. Cl A61h 9/00 [58] Field of Search 128/65,66; 4/178, 180

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3.641.996 2/1972 Friend128/66 2.870,456 l/1959 Greensides 128/66 UX 3.377.630 4/1968 Robare128/66 X 3,297,025 l/1967 Jacuzzi 3.374.492 3/1968 Ruderian 3.420.2261/1969 Berry 50.499 10/1865 Schultz et a1. 4/180 FOREIGN PATENTS ORAPPLICATIONS 1.262.508 5/1965 Germany 1. 128/66 PrimaryExaminer-Lawrence W. Trapp Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Young & Thompson 57] ABSTRACT An automatic device for subaqueous massage, comprising abath or a basin. massaging elements which emit jets or currents of waterand are placed or fixed detachably or rigidly on the walls and/or thebottom of the bath or basin, and an assembly formed by means forsupplying the bath with water. The'eippaiams can be used equally for Thetreatment of invalids or of persons in perfect. health.

10 Claims, 21 Drawing Figures PATENTEI] MAR 1 9 I974 SHEET 1 OF 7PATENTEDMAR 19 m4 3. 797L482 sum 6 OF 7 Fig. '15

PATEHTED AR 1 91974 SHEET 7 UF 7 AUTOMATIC DEVICE FOR SUBAQUEOUS MASSAGEINTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present inventionconcerns apparatus utilized for effecting massage or douches under waterand has for its object the provision of an apparatus permitting ofeffecting the massage or douche under water automatically without theintervention of a practitioner, a medical auxiliary or any other person.

its known "that the te'eia'niaiis'ar'ifiassage tinder water consistsconventionally of a douche or jet, given under water, in a bath or abasin, by an operator such as a masseur or a medical auxiliary. Thewater jet, issuing from a fitting or a nozzle fixed to the end of apipe, is directed manually by the operator towards the immersed body ofthe patient in accordance with more or less predetermined paths, for thepurpose of varying the point of application of the jet, which is afunction of the personal sensitivity of the patient, the part of thebody treated, the complaint in question, etc. The operator canfurthermore modify, inter alia and according to the case to be treated,the pressure of the water, the

distance of the nozzle from the body, the water temperature and theduration of treatment.

In order to permit this massaging under water, at present for thepurpose of reducing the water consumption, baths of large dimensions areutilised in which the water circulates in a closed circuit, there-cycling of the water being effected by a motor-pump set which drawsthe water from the bath and returns it thereto through a flexible pipe,the end of which is equipped with a nozzle or delivery jet. According tothe type of nozzle utifatiguing in practice, since the operator worksunder very irksome conditions, extreme humidity and overheatedsurroundings, and the movements which the operator has to carry out arein themselves very fatiguing v by reason of the fact that he is obligedto bend over the bath and to assume awkward positions which areextremely tiresome to preservethroughout the duration of treatment.

| I... .L-.w-...c Finally the patient is most frequently placed underconstricting or incommodious conditions which do not favour theindispensible muscular relaxation "which moreover it is necessary toobtain in order to impart maximum efficacy to massage under water.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to mitigate these drawbacks thepresent invention has for its object the provision of an automaticapparatus for under water massaging. In fact in this apparatus theoperator is replaced by an assembly of fixed, removable or movablemassaging elements. These elements, incorporated in or simply added to abath or basin, act by emission of single or multiple jets or watercurrents, whether or not mixed with gas, continuous or discontinuous orpulsating jets which may have any desired movement, and the form,composition and temperature of which can vary and are directed towardsvarious parts of the patient immersed in the bath or basin.

FURTHER DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION This apparatus according to theinvention essentially comprises a bath or basin of variable forms anddimensions," one or more motor-pump groups permitting the utilisation ofthe water in a closed circuit, and massaging elements connected to waterinlet circuits.

According to a variant embodiment a programming apparatus can beprovided which ensures the successive or simultaneous operation ofcertain or all of the massaging elements.

In another variant embodiment an air compressor or any analogous deviceis provided which permits the supply of gas to the liquid in the bath orbasin.

The invention will be better understood with the aid of the followingdescription and. the accompanying drawings which show variousembodiments of the apparatus according to. the invention, by way ofnonlimitative examples.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE VIEWS IN THE DRAWINGS In the drawings: FIG. Usa diagrammatic lateral view of a first embodiment of a bath equippedwith massaging elements;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic sectional view along the III- -III in FIG. 2;

FIGS 1a, 2a and 3a represent respectively a lateral sectional view, aplan view and a view in section along A--A in FIG. 1a of anotherembodiment of a bath according to the invention;

FIG. 4 is a view of the bath in the direction of the arrow F inFIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a section along the lines J-J in FIG. 4;

. FIG. 6 shows two directions of jets obtained by the reversal of theplates of the massaging elements;

FIG. 7 represents a diagrammatic view of a water circulation circuit;

. FIG. 8 is a partial sectional view of a massaging element mounted in abath;

FIG 9 represents the arrangement of oblique nozzles in a massagingelement;

FIG. 10.is a plan view of the front face of a massaging element on whichthere are represented, by way of example, different fonns of jet outletorifices;

FIG. 11 is a partial sectional view showing the arrangement ofaball-joint jet in a massaging element;

FIG. 12 is a partial perspective view of a massaging element sheath;

FIG. 13 is a plan view of the plate equipped with jet outlet orificesand intended to be slipped into the sheath according to FIG. 12;

FIG. 14 represents a front elevation and a lateral elevation of one formof a movable massaging element;

FIG. 15 represents the fastening of the massagingelement by means of apermanent magnet;

line

FIG. 16 is a view similar to FIG. but represents the fastening of themassaging element by means of a suction cup;

FIG. 17 represents a sectional view of a bank of multiple injectors andFIG. 18 is a sectional view along the line BB in FIG. 17.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS As represented by wayof example in the Figures of the accompanying drawings, the automaticunder water massage device is constituted essentially by a bath orbasin, the massaging elements placed or fixed detachably or rigidly onthe walls and/or the bottom of the bath and by an assembly formed bymeans for supplying the bath with water, by connection conduits and ifappropriate by a system permitting of effecting diffusion of gas intothe water of the basin.

According to the invention the bath 1 can be an ordinary bath, a cloverleaf or butterfly bath or a bath specially designed for the purpose ofautomatic massage under water. In the first two kinds of baths themassaging elements are preferably fixed on the walls and/or the bottomof the bath in a detachable manner by means of rods, suction cups,magnets or the like.

When the bath is specially designed it can comprise on its inner walls,for the purpose of placing the patient into the most appropriateposition to ensure muscular relaxation and into the most favourableposition so that the jets of water currents can be directed towards hisbody with the maximum of therapeutic efficiency, arm rests 2, 3, bossesor bulges intended to direct or deviate the jets or currents or tocreate eddies, and by way of example recesses 4, 5, 6 in which themassaging elements are fixed.

According to one characteristic of the invention the massaging elementsare constituted, as shown by the various Figures, especially by sheaths7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12 (FIGS. 1 to 6 and 12) and/or by casings 13, 14(FIGS. 1, 7, 8 and 14).

The sheaths forming massaging elements can for example be of rectangularsection (FIG. 12) or oval section and comprise on one or more of theirfaces an aperture 15 equipped with slideways l6, 16. These slideways 16,16' are intended to receive plates 17 carrying nozzles adapted to thedirection and the form of the necessary water jet.

These nozzles can be constituted by holes 18, by slots 19 perpendicularto the front face of the massaging element or oblique in relation tothis face, by flat oblique tubes 20, by cylindrical nozzles 21, by balljoint jets 22 or by any other outlet orifice.

In the case where the nozzles are oriented in a given direction, it ispossible, by reversing the plates 17, simply and rapidly to reverse thedirection of the jets.

According to another variant of the invention the outlet orifices of theplates 17 can be equipped with slats, cross-bars or nozzles withrotating or movable elements.

According to another characteristic of the invention the massagingelements, which are constituted by sheaths or simple tubes fordistribution of the water and/or gas, likewise can be fitted eitherfixedly or detachably on the external faces of the bath or basin, themassaging jets being projected to the interior of the bath or basinthrough orifices provided in the walls thereof and closable if desired,for example by sliding flaps, the essential principle always being thatof creating in the bath an assembly of suitably oriented water jets orcurrents effecting the massaging of the patient.

As represented in FIG. 8 the massaging elements can be realised in theform of round, oval, rectangular casings or casings of any other form.

The casing 23 is fitted in an orifice formed in the wall 24 of the bath,the front face of the casing being closed by a plate 25, withinterposition of a packing 26.

In the case of a circular casing it is possible to modify theorientation of the jets by simple rotation of the plate 25.

Moreover as shown in FIG. 11 the casing 23 can be equipped with one ormore fixed or ball joint jets 22 or with a nozzle with a rotatingelement, or with a device effecting a pulsatory character of the jet, inthis case the plate 25 being removed.

For the adaptation of the massaging device to normal baths, detachablemassaging elements are preferably used which are constituted for exampleby casings 26 (FIG. 14) or by sheaths supplied laterally by means offlexible or semirigid pipes 27, elements fixed to the wall or bottom ofthe bath by one or more permanent magnets 28 (FIG. 15) or by one or moresuction cups 29 (FIG. 16).

According to another variant of the invention the orifices of thenozzles or jets can be connected directly, without the provision of acasing, to orifices provided in the walls or bottom of the bath orbasin.

According to another variant the massaging elements can be constitutedby simple perforated tubes fixed on the internal walls of the bath orbasin.

FIGS. 17 and 18 represent an embodiment of a bank of multiple injectors.By way of example this bank is constituted by a collector 47 of variableform and dimensions, connected to the water inputs, and by a sole piece48 fast with the collector and comprising a bore 49 connected either toatmosphere or to a pressure source such as a gas bottle.

The sole piece 48 is provided with several piercings 50 opening on oneside into the collector 47 and on the other side to atmosphere to formor receive the ejection nozzles. The piercings 50 are preferablyinclined so as to obtain jets directed towards the human body in acentripetal direction in relation to the heart, that is to say in thedirection of venous circulation. 9

Each of the piercings 50 is connected to the bore 49 by a piercing 51.By virtue of this bank it is possible to obtain massaging jetsconstituted by water alone or by a mixture of water and air or gas, byconnecting the bore 49 to atmosphere or to a gas source.

The air or gas can be mixed with the water either by pressure, byequipping the orifice of the bore 49 with a compressor or analogousdevice, or by suction by adopting for the piercings 50, in their sectionincluded between the piercing 51 and the outlet orifice, a largerdiameter than that of their section between the piercing 51 and theorifice in contact with the collector 47.

As represented in FIG. 7 by way of example, the assembly for supplyingthe automatic massaging elements comprises, apart from the basin or bath1, either a plug 30 or a fixed strainer situated at the lower part ofthe bath, or in any other regionof the bath, and an overflow pipe 31, areservoir 32, a pump 33 which delivers the circulating water possibly toelements 34, 35, 36

having the task of reheating this water, aerating it, pulsating it,etc., a distributor 37 connected by conduits to the different massagingelements fixed in the bath. A hose nozzle 38 for possible manualtreatment can also be provided on the distributor 37.

At the exit from the distributor each conduit can be equipped with acock permitting manual selection of the massaging elements to be putinto action.

By way of variant and according to another characteristic of theinvention, the setting in action of the various massaging elements canbe effected by means of an automatic program selector which willperfectly ensure the treatment adapted to each patient and the exactrepetition of a specific treatment.

According to another characteristic of the invention, to the supplyassembly there may be added an air or gas compressor, completed orreplaced if appropriate by a compressed gas or air bottle, in order tocreate a mixture of air or gas in the water in the massaging liquid jet.

The arrangement of the massaging elements in the basin or bath must beeffected, according to the complaint of the patient to be treated, sothat the result is on the one hand a specific, local and precise actionupon certain selected anatomical regions, upon which the massage willbear in accentuated manner, and on the other hand a general massagingaction due to the turbulence of the water created by the interaction ofthe water jets or currents and/or by the shapes of the bath.

By way of example and in no wise limitatively, hereinafter there isindicated a possibility of the arrangement of the massaging elements ina bath the bottom of which, at the level of the feet, is slightly raisedto ensure a given relaxation position with slight cyphosis.

For the massage of the lower members (FIGS. 1 to 6) at the level of thelegs there are provided two lateral sheaths 7, 8 and a central doublesheath 9, 10. These sheaths form two channels in which the legs of thepa tient are lodged.

By way of variant the bottom of the bath or basin is shaped so as toform a central elevation defining two channels for the reception of thelower members of the patient. In this case the massage under water canbe effected by jets issuing from pipes fixed externally and directlyupon series of orifices provided in the walls of the bath or basin, witha single pipe on each side and a double pipe in the hollow formed by thecentral elevation.

The axis of the nozzles of these sheaths or of the pipes is directedtowards the other end of the bath so as to form an acute angle with thepatients leg, which provides the water current thus rising along thelower members of the patient with an action favourable to the returnblood circulation.

For massaging the spine, the posterior face of the thorax and the lumbarregion, seriesof massaging elements are provided in the back of thebath, for example in the form of sheaths 11, 12 separated by a cushion39 upon which the patients body rests.

Massaging of the hips and of the buttocks can be effected by massagingelements for example in the form of casings fitted on the walls andbottom of the bath and comprising outlet orifices in order to obtainwell specified jets.

In another embodiment represented in FIGS. la, 2a and 3a, the bath 1 cancomprise on the one hand, at the level of the lower members, twoelevations 40, 40' separated by a central part 41, on the other hand twoarm rests 42, 42, and finally two bosses 43, 43' serving to support thepatients back.

In the bath thus formed it is possible to provide, in the vicinity ofthe lower members, four banks of nozzles 7, 8', 9', 10 and two nozzles44, 44' for the treatment of the legs and feet respectively.

Moreover for the purpose of treatment of the back and lumbar region ofthe patient it is possible to fix a bank of nozzles 45 equipped withejection nozzles on each side of the bosses 43, 43', and for the purposeof treatment of the hips and buttocks it is possible to fix nozzles 46,for example three in number on each side, beneath the arm rests 42, 42in the vicinity of the bottom of the bath.

Further fittings can of course be provided at any region whatever of thebath for the massaging of other parts of the body.

Thus the automatic massaging apparatus can be constituted by a bathperforated with multiple orifices or series of orifices emitting waterjets or currents suitably directed towards the patient, which orificesare supplied through conduits external to the walls of the bath.

These orifices can be single, isolated, grouped, superposed or alignedin various forms.

These orifices can be grilled or equipped with single or multiple,orientable or non-orientable slats.

They can be in the form of more or less elongated slots, likewisesuperposed or not, for example in the form of a douche called fish tailemitting one or more water jets in flattened form.

These orifices can be equipped with jets or nozzles of various types andmay comprise movable internal elements ensuring a particular form of thejet, a pulsatory character, a discontinuity, or a rotating direction, orthey may be the atomizer type.

The nozzles likewise can be isolated, grouped or aligned. They maycomprise articulations permitting of directing the jet, for exampleorientable ball joint nozzles.

The massaging devices can be constituted by movable elements to which areciprocating oscillating movement is imparted in a specific plane,orany movement in two planes, obtained by a system of cams, in orderthus to cause the water jet or current to describe a specifictrajectory.

The device according to the invention can be used in a particularlyinteresting manner especially for the treatment or rheumatic complaints,after-effects of traumatism, fractures, for the rehabilitation ofaccident victims, for blood circulation troubles, or for patients inperfect health for example as a preparatory action or restorative in thetraining of sports participants.

What is claimed is:

1. An automatic device for underwater massage, comprising a tub adaptedto receive a human body, massaging elements emitting water jets andsecured to the walls of the tub, means to supply water to said jets, thetub having arm rests for a users arms, a portion of the bottom of thetub being elevated at the level of the users lower members, andprotuberances on the walls of the tub for altering the paths of the jetsof water.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1, said elevated ipor- 7 tion having anupwardly convex contour lengthwise of the tub to promote a slightbending of the users legs.

3. An automatic device for underwater massage, comprising a tub adaptedto receive a human body, massaging elements emitting water jets andsecured to the walls of the tub, the tub having a raised divider thatfits between the legs of the user, and water jets carried by the dividerand oppositely outwardly directed.

4. A device as claimed in claim 3, the tub having arm rests formedtherein.

5. A device as claimed in claim 3, having a plurality of elongatedmembers extending along the length of the back of the user and having aplurality of water outlets to said members, and divider means separatingsaid elongated members.

6. A device as claimed in claim 3, said jets being comprised byapertured members mounted in slideways for bodily sliding movementtransversely of the direction of water flow.

7. A device as claimed in claim 3, said water jets comprising elongatedconduits having a multiplicity of openings therethrough spaced along thelength thereof.

jets between said pipe and said air-admission means.

1. An automatic device for underwater massage, comprising a tub adaptedto receivE a human body, massaging elements emitting water jets andsecured to the walls of the tub, means to supply water to said jets, thetub having arm rests for a user''s arms, a portion of the bottom of thetub being elevated at the level of the user''s lower members, andprotuberances on the walls of the tub for altering the paths of the jetsof water.
 2. A device as claimed in claim 1, said elevated portionhaving an upwardly convex contour lengthwise of the tub to promote aslight bending of the user''s legs.
 3. An automatic device forunderwater massage, comprising a tub adapted to receive a human body,massaging elements emitting water jets and secured to the walls of thetub, the tub having a raised divider that fits between the legs of theuser, and water jets carried by the divider and oppositely outwardlydirected.
 4. A device as claimed in claim 3, the tub having arm restsformed therein.
 5. A device as claimed in claim 3, having a plurality ofelongated members extending along the length of the back of the user andhaving a plurality of water outlets to said members, and divider meansseparating said elongated members.
 6. A device as claimed in claim 3,said jets being comprised by apertured members mounted in slideways forbodily sliding movement transversely of the direction of water flow. 7.A device as claimed in claim 3, said water jets comprising elongatedconduits having a multiplicity of openings therethrough spaced along thelength thereof.
 8. A device as claimed in claim 3, and means foradmixing air with the water emitted from said jets.
 9. A device asclaimed in claim 8, said jets being fed by a common water pipe, andmeans intermediate the length of the jets to admit air to the jetsbetween said pipe and the outlet of the jets.
 10. A device as claimed inclaim 9, the portion of the jets between said air-admission means andsaid outlet being of a larger cross section than the portion of the jetsbetween said pipe and said air-admission means.